Sent to AAI from its Affiliate the Nigerian Humanist Movement. Originally published in Sahara Reporters.

Stupendously wealthy Nigerian Pentecostal preachers and clerics have
come under serious attack at the two-day national convention of the
Nigerian Humanist Movement (NHM), which ended Saturday afternoon in
Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The forum brought together students, children, scholars, government
officials, atheists, sceptics, rationalists, agnostics, freethinkers and
professionals from different fields to discuss Humanism as the next
step in Nigeria.

Declaring open the forum which marked the 15th anniversary of the
birth of the NHM, Leo Igwe, the administrative secretary of the Oyo
State –NHM, told participants that many people across Nigeria and
the world were looking up to them. “Meetings like this should spread
message of reason, science and free inquiry, and usher in an era of
positive and progressive change, hope and light,” he charged.

Speakers and participants after one another slammed the various
rulers of the Nigerian state, past and present, as well as citizens for
allowing a great nation like Nigeria to tumble into a chaotic
religious jungle with poverty, disease, ignorance, corruption and crime
to rule.

In the first paper, “Invitation To Humanism? What’s On Offer ? Dr.
Tunde Arogundade, a UK-based politician scientist and humanist,
revealed that he had obtained information about the forum on June 8,
2011 from SaharaReporters, which he declared to be his church. He
advised all to always visit the online site, which he described as, an
“authoritative, reliable news source.”
According to Dr. Arogundade, “Youths instead of going to church should
befriend it. We need change that will bring good, peace for us all.”

Expressing shock that there were humanists in Nigeria, he said,
“Evangelists in Nigeria have developed serious business acumen that
is the envy of many non-spiritual entrepreneurs. The trick of business
diversification has not been lost to the likes of David Oyedepo, Chris
Oyakhilome, Chris Okotie and Mattew Ashimolowo etc.”

He noted that in combination, their churches have cornered a
significant percentage of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). “Super
pastors own a variety of businesses,” he stressed. “The sheer
opulence of some of the most successful churches has given rise to the
calls that the churches be taxed like a company, a money making
enterprise.”

Steve O. Okecha, a distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the
office of the Minister of Education, Federal secretariat, Abuja, also
presented a paper entitled, “ Science and Superstition in Nigeria; A
Lop-Sided Partnership “

Okecha attributed the slow pace of development in the country largely
to superstition and ignorance, arguing that Nigerians over the years
have not lived up to scientific ideas.
The Delta State born scientist described superstition as a national
cancer in Nigeria. In his view, “Most Nigerians of all age-grades and
different levels of education and exposure are superstitious. You can
have a degree in any of the science subjects. That doesn’t make one a
scientist. But one without any science degree can be scientific. A
scientist must ask critical questions”.

Also at the forum, 86-year-old Sheila Solarin, widow of Dr. Tai
Solarin, the popular Nigerian civil rights campaigner, writer and
atheist, sent a strong and well-written solidarity message to
participants.

The unapologetic British atheist, who could not appear on account of
health problems, challenged Nigerians to reject religion, stating that
it has done more harm than good to Nigerians and the nation. He called
upon young people, in particular, to pursue good knowledge, science and
reason, to doubt, and to criticize.

Like Mrs Solarin, many people around the world also extended their
solidarity to the NH on its 15th birthday. They included Norman Allen,
secretary of the Institute of Science and Human Values; Tanya Smith,
President of Atheist Alliance International, a global network of
atheists and free-thought groups and individuals committed to promoting
atheism, secularism and related issues; Dr. Bill Cooke, Director of
international programs of the Centre for Inquiry; and John Dowdle
Mafrsa, President of Watford Area Humanists